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What is a mental illness?

"Mental illness" refers to the collection of all diagnosable mental disorders causing severe disturbances in thinking, feeling, relating, and/or functional behaviors. It can result in a substantially diminished capacity to cope with daily life demands.

A mental illness is a hidden disability; it is rarely apparent to others. However, students with mental illness may experience symptoms that interfere with their educational goals and that create a "psychiatric disability." These symptoms may include yet are not limited to the following:

Heightened anxieties, fears, suspicions, or blaming others

Marked personality change over time

Confused or disorganized thinking; strange or grandiose ideas

Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things

Extreme highs and/or lows in mood

Denial of obvious problems and/or a strong resistance to offers of help